Week 1 of parenthood was filled with an unexpected amount of time at the hospital, replete with the scares and concerns and adjustments. All of which were extensively detailed in Amanda’s last post.

Week 2 has presented new challenges. There were some truly fussy nights, and he still becomes very vocal any time we set him down for longer than three minutes. He isn’t gaining weight as much as everyone would like, so we’ve been changing up the pumping routine and giving him more of the results via bottle. Fortunately, just in time for me to go back to work, Amanda and Jaegermonster came to some new conclusions in the feeding process, and the stress and pain levels were mitigated. Amanda was completely in tears a few times.

He currently nurses for about 45 minutes every two hours, and then there’s either pumping or bottle feeding along with that, plus washing things out and changing diapers more or less each time as well. So Amanda is definitely feeling a bit like a cow, and has to spend almost all her time and attention on him. Thanks to all the support and help we’re getting, and to everyone who emails or calls her to remind her that she is an adult human, and not (just) a baby feeding machine.

Also, also, we’re not big picture takers, but we have been remembering to take a picture or two at every week marker, and I’ve been adding those to the gallery. The latest pictures include a couple from his first real bath, as opposed to the sponge baths he’s gotten so far.

Sadly, all the paperwork from the manufacturer, the hospital, the pediatrician, and the lactation consultant say otherwise. And now that we're having a bout of mastitis, we'll continue washing after each use...